Kidnappit [Graphic Novel]

by Robert Louis Stevenson, Cam Kennedy (Illustrator), Matthew Fitt (Translator)

Kidnappit is the Scots version of the exciting new graphic novelization of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, a dramatic and epic adventure story about a seventeen-year-old desperate to secure hi, s inheritence, culminating in a chase from the islands in the west of Scotland to Edinburgh.

Alan Grant and Cam Kennedy's graphic novel in English has been a big success and, to add to the mix, Matthew Fitt and James Robertson have translated Alan Grant's take on Stevenson's classic into Scots. Kidnappit, the Scots version, will cast a new light on the telling of this famous tale and is sure to capture the imagination of readers young and old.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Scotland, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

Paperback

First published January 12, 2007

About the author

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.

Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.

Reviews

[Jason Pierce]

Dammit. Now I need to get another book, and I already have 100 on my to-read list.

A friend gave this to me, and now I'm inspired to read the original. This graphic novel version reminiscent of the Classics Illustrated series provided breadth for the story, and now I want the depth. I've read Treasure Island and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", and enjoy Stevenson's style, so I'm looking forward to it, though I probably won't get to it until the middle of next year at the earliest.

Sigh... So much to read, so little time.



"Yes, of course. Who has time? Who has time? But then if we never take time, how can we have time?"

Beat it, Merv. I'm in no mood for your BS tonight.

Also, this is adapted by Alan Grant, whose work I enjoyed in the Batman comics of the 1990s when I was reading them. I couldn't tell that it was Grant who was doing anything in this because it wasn't his original work, but it's still nice to see a familiar name, and I'm glad to know he's still working.

[Paulinlong]

Super illustrations and synopsis of the story.

[Andrew Harley]

Do not subject yourself to the torturous experience that is this graphic novel.

[Ezma]

Not familiar with Stevenson's original novel at all, but this is a fun little adventure. Cam Kennedy's art is real nice, especially the coloring of the majestic Scotland hills.

[Phillip]

As a graphic novel, this definitely condenses the story of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, presenting many things in passing that the novel elaborates more upon. One thing that strikes me is that the bulk of the graphic novel is devoted to David's experience in the House of Shaws and on the Covenant, whereas the portions in the Highlands and islands of Scotland are dealt with very quickly and without as much detail as Stevenson gives them (though as I recall Stevenson spends longer than I would have thought necessary on the uncle and the ship).

[Patricia]

3 1/2* Graphic novels of classics - who'd'a thunk?! Brilliant for reluctant readers, and gives a chance to discuss other things happening - like the Scottish Rebellion and the Battle of Culloden. So why not 5*? The VERY last page, the very last picture... HUH??!! I didn't understand it, the kid I'm reading with certainly didn't, so I'll have to find a copy of the 'real' Kidnapped and figure out what happened. Very odd.

[Bracken]

I read this directly after reading Stevenson's novel Kidnapped and, in the wake of Kidnapped, it this was the perfect pace for the novel, which seemed to me to be in slow motion. This isn't the most interesting story in the world, but the graphic novel is much more interesting than the original upon which it is based.

[Jason]

Nice art- haven't read the original but I enjoyed this. Quick read.

[Katie]

Enjoyed reading this book, was given to me by my school as a leaving gift as we moved on to high school - very interesting to read.

[The Brothers]

Asher (7yo) read.

[Ellen]

Although it misses a lot out from the original this book is still very good, with lovely pictures, and would be good for children, slow readers or anyone who doesn't want to read the full version.